Parrots can live a very long time, some up to 70 years or more. That’s a long time to do the same thing, day in, day out — even if it does have a big cage with a nice view. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to help your bird alleviate any potential boredom, and one of those things is to teach it new “tricks.”
Since parrots are highly intelligent creatures, they love to learn. All you need are a few tips and you’re good to go.
Patience
This is one of those virtues you’ll need in spades. Whether it’s a new word or an actual trick like waving, you’re going to need to be patient. Some birds will decide to pick up on the new trick almost immediately, others may decide to take the more ornery road and do it in their own, sweet time. So remember: patience, patience, patience.
Positive Reinforcement
Always reward your bird. Whether it is successful or not, an attempt by your bird to achieve what your are teaching it is worthy of praise, and maybe even its favorite treat. Some may call this bribery, but it really isn’t. And, positive reinforcement will work in ways that scolding and raised voices won’t. Praise and treats beget success, negativity will simply make your bird not want to try.
Read more: http://www.petmd.com/bird/training/evr_bd_oldbirds_newtricks